How Do You Hold on to Your Job During a Recession?

by Philip Finane

With literally thousand's of people loosing their jobs on a daily basis around the
globe it is a tremendously fearful time for the majority of workers. How many of us over
the last twelve months haven't wondered at one time or other "is my job safe?" How many of
us have delayed or postponed major plans in our life because ultimately, these plans are
under pinned by the security and knowledge that we must have a paycheck to pay for it?

Unfortunately way too many of us know first hand someone who has been made redundant in
recent months (Redundant - what a horrible word). The Oxford English Dictionary describes
the word as:

"Redundant - adjective 1 not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous. 2
made unemployed because one's job is superfluous to requirements".

This description doesn't get anywhere close to describing the initial shock, fear and
often helplessness experienced by those of us who have ever been affected by redundancy.
Yet with a bleak out look for many, the show must go on. What is the alternative? While
the very real prospect of job loss hangs over many a head, business and commerce must
continue (Otherwise we may as well all shut up shop and go home... no?).

As workers in the midst of the worst ever global recession it is very easy to loose our
way and find ourselves caught up in all of this recession related noise. In many cases
this will be impossible to do as a company (in a global down turn) is either profitable or
it isn't. It's fundamentals are either sound or they're not. The owners and stake holders
of the business will either stay committed to riding out the recession or they won't.

But lets assume your company is making a profit, it's direction and fundamentals are
rock solid and the powers that be are committed. Let's face it... As employees we are still
NOT out of the woods. In recession time (especially this one) the majority of companies,
even healthy ones, are always looking to trim the fat. No matter how well things are
going, the profit margin can always be better (Any most companies use down turns and
recessions to drop unproductive and over paid employees).

So how can we insulate ourselves against loosing our job? Is there a way?

During this recession many questions will be asked of you by your employer (Many not to
your face). So lets face facts, like never before employees are under tremendous scrutiny
whether they like it or not. Over the next number of months the following questions may be
asked of you (If they haven't already). Are you a useful member of the team? Are you
contributing enough and pulling your weight? Are you putting in enough hours? Are you
hitting your financial targets? Are you maintaining your productivity output? (I could go on!)

The facts are simple, nothing should be as high of a priority as keeping your job. Your
income is everything and you must do everything you can to keep and maintain it. Here are
a couple of tips to try ensure you keep your job during a recession. If you work for a
company that is affected by an economic slowdown (just about every company if honest),
there is a huge chance there will be cuts coming in some shape or form. The key is to
position yourself so that when their are cuts in your department or team, your name is not
in the drop zone.